Asked to Do More at Check Out Lately?

[MattyNorCal]

DW was telling me about this from a discussion on Facebook, but we've also directly experienced it. Our checkout text at Marriott's Grande Ocean and Legends Edge both asked us to strip the beds and put the linenes in the entry way. This is the first year we've seen this. I know the norm about putting soiled towels on the bathroom floor, tub or shower and also about running the diswasher. But hadn't had them ask about strip ping beds. I know that kind of goes back to the old days of timeshare or even independent resorts which often ask this of guests checking out.

Have you experienced this yet at any Marriott Vacation Club resorts? I often have a question about stripping bed linens. Do you leave the duvet on the bed and just strip the duvet cover? I wouldn't think they wash the duvet itself after every guest? Though perhaps they do.

Desert Spring Villas asked this of us at our checkout Thursday.

 

[claraj]

Sounds like this started very recently. I'm going to Westin Lagunamar on Wednesday and will report back.

 

[dioxide45]

I will add, our Grande Ocean stay was in January. IIRC they indicated in the text that stripping linens was optional. Legends Edge may have said the same, but I don't know for sure.

 

[Quilter]

Do they give you a pair of blue gloves with the note. No telling what you'll find when you get down to the mattress pad. Even worse when you're down to the mattress. I've asked for mattresses to be switched out.

In '20 we were staying at OP when I noticed a spot under the sheet. It was blood on the mattress pad. That was the beginning of a saga.

I used to ask that all the items be fresh on our arrival, mattress pad included. Then I asked that they just leave me the fresh linens and I'd make up the bed. Yes, it's a trust issue but I've been conditioned by experience.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I would agree to strip the beds but only if they also agree not to pester me into an owners update.

 

[heitmullerj02]

Management is always about doing more with less people. I was @ Newport coast in February and called the front desk to ask about check out. They did not require stripping beds. On the other hand if you want to check for bed bugs not a bad idea.

 

[Eric B]

When we first bought a long time ago, I remember we were asked to strip beds before checkout along with running dishwasher. There also used to be a villa inventory sheet in the kitchen. At some point the request disappeared. We continued to do it for awhile though.

It’s like everything else where the consumer is asked to do more and more of a company’s work. I love it at the Walmart self checkout when the display asks for a rating. I always think that I did an excellent job!

At Westin St John right now - our villa has an inventory sheet (most of which the villa is woefully low on - 3 out of 8 coffee cups) and there's a list of Check-Out Suggestions that starts out "Many of our Owners and guests inquire about how they can assist our Housekeeping Team before checking out...." Then there's a list of stuff you can do to help out.

We did the inventory and reported it and were told not to worry about it as they know all of the villas are low on things. It's not really terribly clear why there is an inventory sheet. The other thing that strikes me as odd about all this is they don't provide a list of stuff we can do to help out the Housekeeping staff for the mid-week tidy. If we're supposed to be helping them out why is it limited to when we leave...?

 

[Steve A]

We always run the dishwasher and put the used towels by the tub. I’m not stripping the bed.

 

[dioxide45]

I'm still not exactly sure what stripping the bed entails. Do we remove everything and toss it in the entry. Including the mattress pad? What about if there is a mattress protector (wraps the entire mattress usually to prevent bed bugs)? I suspect that stays. Do we throw the pillows and all in the entry or take the pillow cases off? For those worried about the duvet maybe not being washed between each guest, it is for certain that the pillows aren't and they probably more of a worry than the duvet. Thus in the situation of analysis paralysis, I will not bother stripping the beds and leave it to them figure it out.

As for linens and towels, I know many resorts have an employee who goes around to just collect these items. They've often dropped a big linen bag by the door the morning of checkout with new linens. How much time does having the beds already stripped save this employee? Perhaps a few minutes for each room will free up an extra hour, but will this really help turn rooms over faster?

 

[geist1223]

We pile the towels in a Bathtub, take out trash and recyclables, fill the Dishwasher and run it. We have started stripping the Beds to include taking the Duval out of it cover, and the mattress pad. We pile them in each bedroom. We do this to encourage all fresh coverings for the beds.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We always start the dishwasher, even adding the coffeemaker into the machine before starting it. We figure housekeeping isn't going to take the time to make sure the dishes are rinsed. If they have to start the dishwasher after they arrive, they will unload mid-cycle. New dishwashers require 3 hours plus dry time.

The bedding we don't use, I wouldn't strip. All of the units at Newport Coast, Cypress Harbour, Royal Palms, etc., are all 2 bedrooms. We don't use the second bedroom very often, unless we have a grandkids staying with us. I wouldn't strip that bed, but I would strip the master bed for them, if they asked.

We generally don't leave our units looking much different than we arrived. I wipe bathroom and kitchen counters often, no trash is ever lying about. The resorts could make it easier to dispose of the garbage and recycles. They do not make it easy at most resorts.

Be glad you aren't staying at Wyndham, all of you who own Marriott. Marriott is superb, Wyndham is mostly old units that have odors and even Bonnet Creek's 1 bed presidential we had on our last visit had a terrible odor of old middle-eastern food. I searched to see if someone purposefully left food in one of the cupboards. We were there a week and the smell never dissipated. Sure, once we were in the room we got used to it, but the entry into the room was terrible. It was hot, so we didn't air out the room, and there is no screen door to air it out while we were at the parks.

 

[rcdcowner557]

I'd say stripping the beds feels far less premium to me. HGVC doesn't actually ask you to do anything in the last few I've stayed at (McAlpin, Ocean Oak, MarBrisa), though I'm sure they appreciate what you do.

I know that is what made me think they were a step above Regal Vistas at Massanutten which I recall asking you to strip the beds. I think the Hyatt at the Welk also asked us to strip the beds. It was a bit "non-premium". The rest of it was pretty nice though.

This is an excellent example of the fluidity of "brand standards." Where there is no chance that legacy owners can take control of a property's board (i.e., where the Trust has majority ownership), MVW will just staff up so that guests can enjoy every comfort; however, where there is an active legacy owner (which is defined in the Trust documents) population that still has the ability to terminate the management contract, they will dilute their "brand standards" rather than lose the contract.

I suspect MVW is even facing pressure at the Trust point MF level to keep fees down due to both the attrition of existing members (check public records in the pertinent county in Florida for the regularly occurring "deed" backs in the points program) and the inability to attract new points members at current MF levels (check out stock price of VAC?).

As matters stand, I suspect there is quite a bit of cross-subsidizing going on across the Trust portfolio that will benefit some and damage others.

I am personally one who would be in favor of paying higher MF rather than having guests take over departure housekeeping duties, but this issue is exactly the type of issue that should be determined by whoever is actually paying the bills at any given property rather than the vendor providing the service.

 

[Eric B]

How often should you turn your mattress? Experts reveal the best time to flip or rotate

I asked mattress manufacturers how often you should flip or rotate your mattress to elongate its lifespan – and how to do it safely

www.homesandgardens.com

According to some experts, you should rotate your mattress once a month. Given that there doesn't seem to be a great way of tracking when the last guest flipped the mattress, does anyone accomplish that when checking out? Or should we just count on the resort staff accomplishing that?

 

[rcdcowner557]

We have always left villas very tidy, with all rubbish disposed of, dishwasher run with all used cooking items in, used towels etc put in bath/shower… and we are very happy to do so.
Stripping beds though is not something we are willing to do, that would be just a step too far and frankly unacceptable for any accommodation we book, let alone an MVC resort.
This isn’t a late April Fool’s joke is it?

See my comment above regarding the fluidity of brand standards.

 

[b2bailey]

These aren't mandatory and you won't be charged extra if you don't do them.
I have no issue with the TS requesting we do these extra courtesies (run dishwasher, take out trash, strip beds), and actually performing them when I have time. I usually like to get into the TS unit early and this just pays it forward for the next guest to potentially get in early.

Early? Well, maybe on time.

 

[SueDonJ]

We always strip the beds that have been slept in down to the mattress cover and remove the duvet from its cover. We also empty the trash, run the dishwasher with the coffee maker parts and teapot in with the rest of the dirty dishes - and if the dish strainer isn't clean it goes in the dishwasher, too. We throw all the towels in a tub or on the floor near the washer/dryer, and put any dishes and furniture we've moved back where they belong. Maybe it's wishful thinking but like others I hope it makes for a quicker clean before the next guests get in.

[ETA] Last thing, we empty the ice tray and shut off the ice maker.

 

[dioxide45]

[ETA] Last thing, we empty the ice tray and shut off the ice maker.

I do that too.

 

[defurry]

I agreed to pay maintenance fees when I purchased, and I'm paying close to 85 cents per MVC point. Stripping bed linens is a hard pass for me. Make them do the work that THEY agreed to do.

 

[wuv pooh]

What's old is new again. When we joined in 2001 that was one of the responsibilities of being an owner. There was a checklist of what you were supposed to do on exit, run dishwasher, turn off lights, pile linens in the hot tub, etc. It was an expected part of being an owner and assume it was that way from earlier. That ended pretty soon after that, but we still keep up the habit.

 

[pedro47]

I'm not trying g to start anything.
But if your doing part of their job will your housekeeping fees go down ??.
I understand they want a fast turn over, but the management needs to talk to the staff or hire more people.

IMHO, housekeeping fees will never go down in my lifetime. Housekeeping Supplies and labor costs are forever increasing year by year.

 

[WBP]

In my opinion, this is the latest MVC scandal, to the tune of MVC’s ECO and Green programs (as disingenuous and deceptive, as they come). This one, in my opinion has ulterior motives, from some of the biggest sharks in the business. I would expect this program to have something to do with fewer housekeepers, and MVC’s unwillingness to pay competitive wages and benefits to housekeepers, and to have programs to retain MVC housekeeping staff, including work-quality conditions.

MVC can go pound sand.

 

[pedro47]

Most housekeepers at Marriott’s resort are contract employees and they are not on Marriott’s payroll.

 

[Passepartout]

Boo! I'll load & run dishes, and take out the trash, but I'm NOT stripping their beds! Too bad, so sad.

I am reminded of TUGs famous questionnaire about 'How many stars do you expect in a resort?' Well, if I have to do housekeeping for them, I'm keeping the stars for myself. Three, MAX!

Jim

 

[tha]

Chairman's Club member here from the SVN side of the family tree. Marriott's elimination of late check out as an elite benefit and their general "Customer Service by DMV" style do not make me sympathetic to their cause. As in all things Marriott, we are not the customer, we are the product. Their just looking to boost earnings for their customers, i.e. hedge funds and stealth hedge funds (think Harvard).

 

[mjm1]

We have taken the bed sheets and pillow cases off for years in lieu of leaving a tip. I remember reading of that idea here on TUG. However, we usually just leave them piled up in the bedroom. We fold the comforter and leave it on the bed or on the dresser or chair, if available.